Victory in county Tipperary hurling league final means more silverware for Sarsfields

Thurles Sarsfields 1-24 Ballingarry 1-18

A slicker, more efficient Thurles Sarsfields combination were full value for their six-points win over Ballingarry in the FBD Insurance County Hurling League Division Three final at Littleton on Sunday evening.

When these sides met earlier in the competition, Ballingarry were victorious but on Sunday they couldn’t match the scoring options in the Sarsfields set-up. At the end the South lads were left to rue chances they missed, as Sarsfields picked up their second piece of silverware, with the Cahill Cup Mid senior hurling trophy already in the bag.

This was a lively encounter all through and while Sarsfields made the running all the way, Ballingarry never threw in the towel, even when ten points adrift in the third quarter. They gave their supporters plenty to cheer about and will not be too despondent with this defeat.

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The performance of what is Sarsfields’ second team had all the hallmarks of the senior combination. Smart inter-changes and quality striking saw them push six points clear (0-11 to 0-5) at the start of the second quarter, with Jack Lanigan, Cian Stakelum, Rory Purcell, Seanie Butler, Jack Lanigan, Conor Lanigan and Cillian Minogue all finding the target.

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Ballingarry were looking to county panellist Dylan Walsh to inspire them but he was kept on a tight rein from play, though he shot seven of their ten first half points. Six points down going into the second quarter, they finished the half well, outscoring their rivals five points to four. Michael Ivors, Simon Blackmore and Ben Ivors were their other scorers in the half.

At the break Sarsfields led 0-15 to 0-10 but having had the aid of the breeze in the first half, this was not an unbridgeable gap for Ballingarry. They resumed with a Dylan Walsh point from a free, which Jack Lanigan countered for Sarsfields, also from a placed ball.

Eight minutes into the second half Sarsfields got their goal, Cillian Minogue benefitting from Cian Stakelum’s graft to find the net for a 1-16 to 0-11 lead. Points from Jack Lanigan and Mossie McCormack followed quickly to consolidate the Thurles advantage but Ballingarry did not wilt.

Ben Ivors netted in the 44th minute, followed by Conor Vaughan and Ian Ivors’ points to cut the deficit to six points.

This set the tie up for a grandstand finish. Ballingarry needed another goal but it did not come, as the sides traded points.

Sarsfields kept their opponents at arm’s length through the last ten minutes to win the title, if not with comfort then certainly with composed defending under pressure.

Sarsfields have been among the front-runners in the Premier Intermediate grade for the past three years and all the indications are that they will be so again this year. But Ballingarry too will take much encouragement from this display and can look forward to the championship with optimism. Had their finishing been better they would have been closer and that is something to be worked on in the run-up to the start of the south and county championships.

With a liberal sprinkling of players who have tasted action at senior level, Sarsfields fielded a very strong combination and were full value for their win. Their ability to pick off scores from distance gave them a decided edge with key performances from Seanie Butler, Jack Lanigan, Rory Purcell, Cillian Minogue, Cian Stakelum, Jack Derby and Jack O’Mara.

Ballingarry will look to build on a very impressive league campaign in the forthcoming championships.

They have lots of talent in their squad. Paul Butler, Declan Hayes, Simon Blackmore, Conor Vaughan, Ben Ivors and Michael Ivors were leaders on the field in a gutsy team performance that with a little fine-tuning will make them a formidable force in the upcoming action.

Sarsfields: Kevin Bracken; Kieran Moloney, Aidan Ryan (0-1), Jack O’ Mara; Seosamh Ryan, Jack Derby, Michael Purcell; Cian Stakelum (0-4), Daniel Rossiter; Mossie McCormack (0-2), Conor Lanigan (0-1), Seanie Butler (0-3); Rory Purcell (0-4), Jack Lanigan (0-6,4fs), Cillian Minogue(1-2).

Subs: Michael O’Brien (0-1), Aidan Stakelum, Paul Noonan.

Ballingarry: Paidi Maher; Gerard Ryan, Paul Butler, Jack Fennelly; Mikie McGrath, Declan Hayes, James Burns; David Pollard, Simon Blackmore (0-1); Conor Vaughan (0-1), Michael Ivors (0-3), Thomas Walton; Michael Ryan, Dylan Walsh (0-10,9fs), Ben Ivors (1-2).

Subs: Ian Ivors (0-1,f), Ger Fennelly, John Walshe, Patrick Ivors.

Referee: Christy McLoughlin (Nenagh Eire Og).